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René Girard's Mimetic Theory (Studies in Violence, Mimesis & Culture) Paperback – January 1, 2013

by Wolfgang Palaver (Author)
4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 62 ratings
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A systematic introduction into the mimetic theory of the French-American literary theorist and philosophical anthropologist René Girard, this essential text explains its three main pillars (mimetic desire, the scapegoat mechanism, and the Biblical “difference”) with the help of examples from literature and philosophy. This book also offers an overview of René Girard’s life and work, showing how much mimetic theory results from existential and spiritual insights into one’s own mimetic entanglements. Furthermore it examines the broader implications of Girard’s theories, from the mimetic aspect of sovereignty and wars to the relationship between the scapegoat mechanism and the question of capital punishment. Mimetic theory is placed within the context of current cultural and political debates like the relationship between religion and modernity, terrorism, the death penalty, and gender issues. Drawing textual examples from European literature (Cervantes, Shakespeare, Goethe, Kleist, Stendhal, Storm, Flaubert, Dostoevsky, Proust) and philosophy (Plato, Camus, Sartre, Lévi-Strauss, Derrida, Vattimo), Palaver uses mimetic theory to explore the themes they present. A highly accessible book, this text is complemented by bibliographical references to Girard’s widespread work and secondary literature on mimetic theory and its applications, comprising a valuable bibliographical archive that provides the reader with an overview of the development and discussion of mimetic theory until the present day.
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  1. Part of series
    Studies in Violence, Mimesis & Culture
  2. Print length
    424 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Publisher
    Michigan State University Press
  5. Publication date
    January 1, 2013
  6. Dimensions
    6 x 1.1 x 9 inches
  7. ISBN-10
    1611860776
  8. ISBN-13
    978-1611860771
  9. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

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Palaver's survey of Girard's mimetic theory is the most thorough introduction to Girard's thought and its ramifications that has been written, uniting profound insight, clear explication, and a tremendous breadth of research.
--James Williams, author of The Bible, Violence, and the Sacred and editor of The Girard Reader



A real tour de force, Palaver succeeds in situating mimetic theory in regard to major trends in contemporary thought, to document its relevance and contributions to various disciplines while simultaneously providing the most comprehensive and accessible introduction in any language.

—Paul Dumouchel, Ritsumeikan University



Wolfgang Palaver’s exploration of Rene Girard’s mimetic theory is comprehensive, thorough, and penetrating. He takes us into the heart of Girard’s anthropology of desire, while also tracing its rich implications for the contemporary study of politics, culture, gender, and religion. This English translation now makes available to a wider audience the definitive “must-read” account of one of the most important theoretical projects of our time.

—Bruce K. Ward, Laurentian University


First published in German in 2003, Wolfgang Palaver’s René Girard’s Mimetic Theory is a crucially important addition to the growing body of English-language studies of Girard’s work. Clear, comprehensive, analytically acute, this volume shows Palaver to be a worthy successor to his Austrian colleague, Raymund Schwager, as Girard’s interpreter and collaborator. The rich fruit of annual lectures over a period of ten years, René Girard’s Mimetic Theory not only describes that theory, placing it in comparison and contrast with the theories of other major twentieth-century intellectuals concerning religion, mimesis, desire, and violence, it also shows why and how Girard’s insights are increasingly relevant today. Braiding together topically related discussions of literary fiction, Biblical texts, philosophy, anthropology, psychology, political science, and theology, Palaver reflects, imitates, and extends Girard’s own inter-disciplinarity in a breathtaking, scholarly tour de force.

—Ann W. Astell, University of Notre Dame

About the Author

Wolfgang Palaver is Professor of Catholic Social Thought and Chair of the Institute for Systematic Theology at the University of Innsbruck. He is a member of the advisory board of Imitatio, a nonprofit organization dedicated to René Girard’s mimetic theory.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Michigan State University Press; 1st edition (January 1, 2013)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 424 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1611860776
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1611860771
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.14 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6 x 1.1 x 9 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 62 ratings

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Wolfgang Palaver

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Customer reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars
4.5 out of 5
62 global ratings
Got this for a college class
4 Stars
Got this for a college class
Interesting summation of Girard’s work, assigned by my professor. Some damage on the cover but nothing major.
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Top reviews from the United States

Alex Lee
5.0 out of 5 stars This is work that is not to be approached lightly. It can revolutionize the reader's view of the world and his understanding.
Reviewed in the United States on March 18, 2018
Verified Purchase
Practically unknown in the United States, René Girard is rated in Europe as one of the great thinkers of the 20th century. I don't think that you can see the world in the same way once you become familiar with his seminal work. He is lucid, convincing, perceptive, inspired and inspiring. In short, he deserves his European reputation as one of the world's great thinkers. I recommend all of his work, but for the beginner in Girardian theory, I especially endorse a CBC series that can be purchased on tape or CD of Girard talking about his scapegoat theory. He traces its origin through Ancient Greece, the Old Testament and through to modern times. Try this and then read Mimetic Theory. Girard is amazing. A splendid voyage of discovery awaits the newcomer to his thought!
16 people found this helpful
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Reinoud Doeschot
5.0 out of 5 stars A book which provides access to Girard's theory
Reviewed in the United States on April 30, 2013
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Beautiful analysis of Girard's theory and well written. By comparing Girard's theory with what other thinkers and writers wrote, Palaver not only provides a broad overview of ancient and modern thinking, but also produces valuable insights in the origins of violence and the relationship between violence and culture.
12 people found this helpful
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David C. Meyers
4.0 out of 5 stars An excellent primer!
Reviewed in the United States on October 22, 2022
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A great introduction to René Girard and his theory. Plenty of examples. My only complaint - I felt it ended rather clumsily. There was no concluding wrap up.
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John
5.0 out of 5 stars Great comprehensive overview of Girard's theory
Reviewed in the United States on April 23, 2014
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Great comprehensive overview of Girard's theory of mimesis and the scapegoat. I highly recommend it for a detail summary of his work.
4 people found this helpful
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Mark A. Davies
5.0 out of 5 stars Must Read for any Serious Student of Girard
Reviewed in the United States on April 23, 2015
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A challenging but absolutely worthwhile read for anyone seeking a comprehensive understanding of Girard's provocative and influential life's work.
3 people found this helpful
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Emily
4.0 out of 5 stars Got this for a college class
Reviewed in the United States on January 23, 2022
Verified Purchase
Interesting summation of Girard’s work, assigned by my professor. Some damage on the cover but nothing major.
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Emily
4.0 out of 5 stars Got this for a college class
Reviewed in the United States on January 23, 2022
Interesting summation of Girard’s work, assigned by my professor. Some damage on the cover but nothing major.
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Melanie Shull
5.0 out of 5 stars Essential
Reviewed in the United States on June 12, 2017
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An essential introduction to the breadth of Girard's thought.
One person found this helpful
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Wayne Larocque
5.0 out of 5 stars Great book
Reviewed in the United States on June 9, 2013
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Comprehensive and probing work of Girard and the power and reach of his thought. A scholarly work that is also quite readable.
5 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

Pawan Rai
4.0 out of 5 stars Well Written
Reviewed in India on January 12, 2019
Verified Purchase
Good book.
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